God-Mediated Control and Change in Self-Rated Health

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to see if feelings of God-mediated control are associated with change in self-rated health over time. In the process, an effort was made to see if a sense of meaning in life and optimism mediated the relationship between God-mediated control and change in health. The following hypothesized relationships were contained in the conceptual model that was developed to evaluate these issues: (1) people who go to church more often tend to have stronger God-mediated control beliefs than individuals who do not attend worship services as often; (2) people with a strong sense of God-mediated control are more likely to find a sense of meaning in life and be more optimistic than individuals who do not have a strong sense of God-mediated control; (3) people who are optimistic and who have a strong sense of meaning in life will rate their health more favorably over time than individuals who are not optimistic, as well as individuals who have not found a sense of meaning in life. Data from a longitudinal nationwide survey of older adults provided support for each of these hypotheses.

The relationship between religious beliefs and behaviours and changes in Spiritual Health Locus of Control over time in a national sample of African-Americans

“…Passive SHLOC is the belief that a higher power controls one’s health such that the individual does not take health protective actions (“There is no point to taking care of myself when it’s all up to God anyway”). The passive SHLOC dimension is similar to the one dimensional God Health Locus of Control construct (Wallston, Malcarne, Flores, Hansdottir, Smith, Stein, Weisman, & Clements, 1999), while the active SHLOC dimension is similar to Krause (2010)’s God Mediated Locus of Control construct. Further, Active SHLOC is similar to Pargament’s positive religious coping, and Passive SHLOC is comparable to his negative religious coping and spiritual struggle concepts.…”

“…Since prior studies suggest that religiosity may be related to both higher internal locus of control and higher external locus of control (e.g., Coursey, Kenworthy, & Jones, 2013; Krause, 2010), we predicted higher religious involvement (beliefs and behaviors) will predict an increase in both active and passive SHLOC from Time 1 to Time 2. While we do not know of any research on religiosity and changes in locus of control, we speculate that most churches teach a combination of “God-self collaboration” (active SHLOC) and “God in complete control” (passive SHLOC) regarding health issues, leading participants to report a combination of active and passive SHLOC beliefs.…”

“…In a sample of older adults, Krause (2010) found that compared to less frequent church attenders, those with more frequent church attendance had stronger God-mediated control beliefs (beliefs that God and the individual work together to influence the individual’s life events). Additionally, those with stronger God-mediated control beliefs had a greater sense of meaning and optimism than those with weaker God-mediated control and consequently rated their health as more favorable over time than those with lower sense of meaning and optimism (Krause, 2010).…”

“…Additionally, those with stronger God-mediated control beliefs had a greater sense of meaning and optimism than those with weaker God-mediated control and consequently rated their health as more favorable over time than those with lower sense of meaning and optimism (Krause, 2010). …”

Kept in His Care: The Role of Perceived Divine Control in Positive Reappraisal Coping

“…Krause (2005Krause ( , 2010 has developed a similar construct he calls "God-mediated control." Akin to perceived divine control, Krause's construct "is based on the notion that problems can be overcome, and goals in life can be reached by working together with God" (Krause 2005, p. 137).…”